BYU Faces Tough Stretch Before Big 12 Tournament

Cougars' NCAA Tournament hopes hang in the balance after recent struggles

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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BYU men's basketball team, once comfortably in the NCAA Tournament field, is now facing a precarious situation after losing star guard Richie Saunders to injury and struggling in recent games. The Cougars have a brutal closing stretch, including road games at Cincinnati and home against Texas Tech, that will likely determine their NCAA Tournament fate.

Why it matters

BYU was considered a lock for the NCAA Tournament just a week ago, but their recent slide has put their tournament hopes in jeopardy. The Cougars need to regain their early-season form to secure their spot in the Big Dance, otherwise they could find themselves sweating on Selection Sunday.

The details

Since losing Saunders to an ACL tear, BYU has struggled with sluggish starts, inconsistent defense, and issues with rebounds, loose balls, and decision-making. Head coach Kevin Young and star freshman AJ Dybansta have acknowledged the team's problems, but they're running out of time to fix them. BYU still has the talent and resume to make the tournament, but their recent play has raised concerns about their current form.

  • BYU lost Saunders to an ACL tear in an overtime win over Colorado on February 14th.
  • The Cougars have a road trip to Cincinnati and a home showdown with Texas Tech before the Big 12 Tournament.

The players

Richie Saunders

BYU's star guard who suffered an ACL tear on February 14th.

Kevin Young

BYU's head coach who has acknowledged his team's struggles in recent games.

AJ Dybansta

BYU's star freshman who has also addressed the team's issues and the need to improve.

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What they’re saying

“It was a joke in the first half. Defensively, it was a disaster.”

— Kevin Young, Head Coach

“We just got to figure out a way to start the game like that.”

— AJ Dybansta, Star Freshman

What’s next

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The takeaway

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